Two applications of the nuclear Thomas-Fermi model

We use the Thomas-Fermi model of macroscopic nuclear properties described i n W.D. Myers and W.J. Swiatecki, Nucl. Phys. A601, 141 (1996), to discuss t wo applications: a) the response of the nuclear energy to changes of the ne utron and proton diffusenesses, and b) the equation of state of cold nuclea r matter. Under a) formulae are provided which will make it possible to imp rove existing Microscopic-Macroscopic calculations of nuclear properties by the inclusion of the two degrees of freedom associated with the neutron an d proton diffusenesses. The algebraic formulae presented under b) may serve as a reliable baseline estimate of the equation of state. It is argued tha t the value of the nuclear compressibility coefficient It as well as its de pendence on the relative neutron excess are now fairly well determined.